As far back as I can remember, I have had a weird heart beat at times. I also have inherited reactive hypoglycemia. All my uncles and my father have it.

I chose to ignore the weird beat based on the fact that my grandfather had weird beats - he also had multiple heart attacks and died at the age of 90 of natural causes. What I have learned is that most of the weird beats were PVCs, that I thought my heart had stopped, so coughing would kick it back into gear. Most times, the coughs were involuntary. I didn't let it bother me, I continued playing sports, working hard, having an active life. During my yearly check-ups, the doctors would say, you have a strong, athletic heart. I'm someone that feels my pulse no matter what position. When I hold my wife's hand, she will tell me how she can feel my heart beating.

Fast forward. At the age of 34, I was flying home after a conference, filled with libations, gambling, late nights and of course a lot of caffeine. When the plane was landing, I was excited that I would see my wife and child, and my heart started beating fast. After boarding the plane, it continue beating fast, and felt out of rhythm. I tried ignoring it, but after making it through customs, I felt weak. I took a taxi home, and on the ride was debating to tell him to drive me to the hospital or home. I chose to go home, since across the street of our house was the hospital.

After putting away my luggage, I asked my wife to feel my heart. She felt it, said yes, it is fast and weird, but you have always had a weird beat. Lay down and rest. After two hours, I went to the ER, which the EKG showed an arrhythmia with 140 bpm.

After 18 hrs, the arrhythmia stopped, and I felt fine. A day later I was released from the hospital, with a follow-up visit with the cardiologist. I was put on a beta blocker, told to avoid caffeine, chocolate and alcohol, and put on an exercise program - increased heart rate for at least 15 minutes a day. By the way, my heart was calm, I can not really explain it, only that it felt calm. I had the whole cardio work up, stress test, ECG, EKG, ultrasound, etc. All normal.

I mentioned I played sports, but I hated running distances. If I ran 0.5 miles without stopping that was an accomplishment. I learned that caffeine can make you short winded, and after being off caffeine I could run a mile without stopping - Wow. After I conditioned, I built-up to being able to run 5 miles at 9.5 minutes/mile, max heart rate around 170, and only breathing through my nose.

At age 35, I was in the best shape of my life my heart was no longer weird; however, I would get concerned when I would feel a PVC. Being a chemical engineer , I was amused by what was causing them. I noticed that sometimes when I ran, I would have PVCs. When cooling down, I would have PVCs. I began monitoring my heart a lot and began taking account of the PVCs.

On a follow-up visit with the cardiologist, I brought up the PVC issue. He told me to get them out of my mind, they are benign. Easy to say, hard to do. Since I was running everyday, I was taken off the beta blocker, with a promise I would not drink caffeine, eat chocolate and limit alcohol consumption to no more than two per day.

During one of the ECGs, I had a PVC, the Dr. joked with me and said, did you feel that one. Why, yes, of course. He was concerned about my stress and worry over the PVCs and told my wife to help reduce my stress and concern.

After moving back to the U.S., I woke up one morning having a lot of PVCs. When I swallowed, turned my head, coughed, anything, I would have a PVC. Although I did not feel bad, I went to the ER to document it, which they sent me home saying it was benign. From what I read on this website, it's a common saying.

I changed jobs and moved to Texas, was not running as much, and tried to ease back into caffeine. My previous job was very stressful, and I took this job as a stress relief. I also had a second child. I continued monitoring the PVCs and noticed that every time I got into my car, three minutes down the road I would have 5 or 6 PVCs. Sometimes they would be very close together, within heart beats of each other. This concerned me, but I was told to get them out of my mind.

In May of this year, I was driving home, felt two PVCs back to back, and my heart started racing. I started driving to the ER, called my wife, and she calmed me down. After five minutes, the heart returned to a normal rate. That was very odd for me. In July of this year, sitting at a red light, I had two PVCs back to back, and my heart started racing. It felt like worms in my chest. I drove home, and after getting out the car, the heart returned to normal. I decided to see a Dr, who referred me to a cardiologist.

I was given a holter monitor, stress test, EKG, etc. During the stress test, I had five PVCs, which the nurse said, those are normal, it is your heart adjusting to the physical activity.
The Dr. thought I may be having SVTs. I had one rapid heart beat event with the monitor, but it showed a normal rhythm. I was sent back to my family doctor.
In September, I was sitting with my children watching NASCAR, when wham, my heart took off again. I layed down and after 15 minutes it slowed, but I went to the ER anyways. On the drive, my left arm started tingling which sent me in a panic. At the ER, my vitals were normal and the EKG showed a normal rhythm.

The family doctor said I was having panic attacks and I was instructed to do biofeedback. I also learned that my Dad had panic attacks in his thirties and forties. He also had PVCs.

During the past two years, I had been tracking my meals and what affected PVCs and what did not. I learned that sausage and may be ice cream from fast food places will cause me to have multiple PVCs throughout the day. I tested the sausage theory out. I would go a week not eating sausage for breakfast, then pick a day, and on that day I would have the frequent PVCs. I did this three times. I do not know why, but sausage, which I have always eaten for breakfast, causes me to have frequent PVCs. Since cutting out sausage, I have not felt "unnormal" PVCs for two months. I will get a PVC if I bend over and stand-up, or be in an uncomfortable position, but I consider those normal.

Three weeks ago, I woke up and felt like my sugar level was low. I ate a light breakfast, and took a shower. I noticed my heart rate was uncomfortably high in the shower (120-130). I attributed this to hypoglycemia. I finished the shower, and laid in bed. After a few minutes
my heart was down to around 58 bpm. I got up and started doing some work on the computer, when BAAM, my heart started beating rapidly and weird. I told my wife, now I'm having a panic attack, let's do the biofeedback. The rhythm slowed down, but it still felt weird. After 30 minutes, the typical span of a panic attack, my heart was still fast and weird. I asked my wife to take me to the ER.
When I stood up out of bed, I was lightheaded, not dizzy, and felt nausea. I laid on the floor and put my shoes on. Both my arms were tingling and a little numb. I was told that would happen during a panic attack.

At the ER, they hooked me up to an EKG, pulse was 90 bpm, and the nurse said, you have a normal rhythm. No longer than she had it out of her mouth, she said... uhhh, no you have A-fib. You are too young for A-fib, this is something people 60+ get. Since my rhythm was controlled, they sent me home. I saw another cardiologist, who was comical and told me I was too young for this. I was healthy, if I wanted to have a coke, beer, coffee, do it.

It's been three weeks, and I haven't had anything weird. I've also started running more frequently now. I am hoping that by posting this, I help others who suffer or worry about PVCs or other heart issues. I am still baffled that sausage causes frequent PVCs. Other stimulants, MSG, does not affect me.